Lifting device for sick persons



No. 6|8,274. Patented .Ian. 24, I899. C. W. JONES.

LIFTING DEVICE FOR SICK PERSONS.

(Applicaticn filed. Nov. 14, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WITNEISSES. INVENTOR. fia ylfi fi 'fl lu/ha Nrr; STATES Price.

ATENT CHARLES IV. JONES, OF OTSEGO, MICHIGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,274, dated January 24, 1899.

Application filed November 14,1898. Serial No. 696,404. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES W. J ONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Otsego, in the county of Allegan and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Lifting Devices for Sick Persons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a new and useful device for lifting and handling persons who are sick and not in condition to move themselves; and the invention consists in a fabric of cloth or other suitable material provided with rods or stiffeners and also with straps suitably attached to the fabric for lifting a person placed thereon, the object being to furnish a cheap, simple, and efficient device for handling the sick and also for transporting a person a short distance, as from one bed to another or from a chair to a bed, and vice versa. These objects I accomplish by means of the mechanism illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a plan view of my improved device for lifting and handling a sick person, the same being shown from the upper side. Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of the same in the position it would assume in lifting a person placed thereon.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throu ghout the drawings.

A represents the fabric, which forms the substantial part of the device. This fabric may be cloth or any other suitable soft and flexible material and should be of sufficient width and length to accommodate the body of a person of ordinary size. At the head portion of the device, or that portion which would receive the head and shoulders of the person, I provide the straps B B and O O. The straps B B are preferably made so as to extend entirely across the fabric A, as shown by dotted lines. The opposite end of the device I provide with straps D D and E E and also a cross-strap F. These straps pass on the under side of the fabric A wherever they are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Instead of making the straps B and E separate, as shown in the drawings, a single strap maybe run entirely across from foot to headthat is, the strap B (shown in Fig. 1) would compose the strap E by continuation-although I prefer the form shown in the drawings. These straps are formed into loops, as shown at B in Fig. 2, and a loop is also formed on either end of the strap F, the loops being shown by P P in Fig. 2.

Whenever the lifting device is to be used by a single person, Iprovide cross-straps M and N; but when two persons are required to lift or any other suitable material and which are 7 I stitched into the fabric or fit into pockets therein. These rods are used for the purpose of stiffening the fabric and causing the whole device to remain in its extended position when occupied by a person. At the other end of the fabric I also provide stiffeningrods, (shown by K K,) which are attached in the same manner as the rods J J.

By this construction a person reclining upon the lifting device, with head and shoulders resting upon the part lifted by the straps C B and the hips and limbs resting upon the part provided with the straps D, E, and F, may be easily raised and transported, and the lifting device will have no tendency to contract or shorten.

The stiffening-rods are so placed in the fab ric that they may be readily removed.

This device is adapted to be folded into a small and compact compass. The short stiffening-rods not extending the entire length of the fabric allow the fabric to be folded from end to end and then rolled into a com pact form.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, a device for lifting and handling the sick, the same composed of a flexible fabric, suitable stiffening-rods, four in number, and suitable straps attached to the fabric and serving as means for lifting the device when occupied by a person, substantially as described.

2. In a lifting device for the sick, the combination of the fabric A, the straps B, O, and rods J, J, the straps D, E, F and rods K, K, said strap F being provided with suitable loops, substantially as described.

3. In alifting device for the sick, the combination of the fabric A provided with an opening covered by a flap H, straps D, E and F, stiffening-rods K,- K at the foot end of such device, and straps B, C, and stifiening-rods J, J, at the head of said device, all constructed substantially as described.

at. In combination with a flexible fabric A, stiffening-rods K, K, the straps E and D with the cross-strap F provided with loops, the opening covered by means of the flap H, the stiffening-rods J, J, the straps O and B, said straps B being each provided with loops, all constructed substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses. v I

CHARLES W. JONES. XVitnesses: EDWARD TAGGART, CHRISTOPHER HoNDELiNK. 

